GOOSEBERRY

Gooseberry contains tannin which prevents oxidation of the vitamin and renders the fruit a valuable anti-scorbutic in the fresh and as well as in dry condition. it is used as a remedy for anemia, jaundice and dyspepsia.

Botanical Name: Emblica officinalis, Gaertn

Family Name: Euphorbiaceae

English Name: Indian Gooseberry

Indian Name: Amla

Description:

This is a small genus of tree, native of India, Ceylon, Malaya and China. It is medium sized tree with smooth greenish grey bark. Fruits are globose, half to one inch in diameter, fleshy six lobed containing six trigonous seeds.

A tannin containing gallic acid, ellagic acid and glucose in its molecule are naturally present in this fruit, prevents or retards oxidation of the vitamin and renders the fruit a valuable anti-scorbutic in the fresh and as well as in dry condition. The anti-scorbutic value is better retained by preserving the fruits in salt solution or in the form of dry powder. The dried fruit looses only 20 % of its vitamin in 375 days when kept in refrigerator, but loses 67% in the same period when stored at room temperature.

Nutritional value:

The fruit is green when tender, changes to light yellow or brick red color when matured. It is sour and astringent and occasionally eaten raw. It is used for making pickles, preserves and jellies.

The fruit pulp contains (per 100 gm):

Moisture: 81.2%

Protein: 0.5%

Fat: 0.1%

Fiber: 3.4%

Mineral matter: 0.7%

Carbohydrate: 14.1%

Calcium: 0.05 mg

Phosphorus: 0.02 mg

Iron: 1.2 mg

Calories: 58

Nicotinic acid: 1.2 mg

Vitamin C (Pulp): 600 mg per 100 gm

Vitamin C (Juice): 921 mg per 100 gm

Small amount of beta-carotene, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 are also present.

Amla fruit is probably the richest known source of vitamin C. The fruit juice contains nearly 20 times as much vitamin C as orange juice and is single fruit with equal anti-scorbutic value. Trials on healthy human subjects show that the vitamin present in the fruit is utilized at pure ascorbic acid. When administered to patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, vitamin C saturation is more quickly reached with gooseberry powder than synthetic vitamin C, thereby showing that the former is more readily assimilated, probably due to the presence of accessory factors or probably going synergic.

MEDICINAL USES:

1. The raw fruit is eaten as an aperient.

2. Dried fruit is useful in hemorrhage, diarrhea and dysentery.

3. In combination with iron, it is used as a remedy for anemia, jaundice and dyspepsia.

4. Fermented liquor prepared from the fruit is used in jaundice, dyspepsia and cough.